The National Science Foundation gave the University a $2.5 million, four-year grant to research how artificial intelligence can be used in education, according to James Lester, associate professor of computer science and principal director of the grant.
The grant was proposed to the National Science Foundation’s Discovery Research K-12 program by the involved departments in the University.
Lester said eight people from the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Education have been working on a video game for approximately three years.
The game, “Crystal Island,” will be used to help eighth graders study microbiology, he said.
Jon Rowe, graduate research assistant, said “Crystal Island” teaches by taking the students on an adventure.
The game runs on a Source game engine for PC’s and offers different ways to study symptoms so that the student can unveil what diseases are harming different characters on the game, he said.
The students must learn diseases, test objects, read books and posters, speak to simulated experts and learn about pathogens, viruses and bacteria, Rowe said.
He also said the game is distinguished by its up-to-date graphics, which make it more tailored to the age-group that will use it.
According to Lester, the game’s artificial intelligence uses probability in student modeling. The student’s previous answers are used to guess what answer the student will chose next, he said.
A new version of “Crystal Island” is being developed for fifth graders, Lester said. This version will teach ecology, weather and terrain based on the same technology for the eighth-grade game. There is also work being done on a program called “Narrative Theater” which will help develop creativity in the writing skills of seventh graders.
“Combining artificial intelligence and commercial game technology offers potential for education,” Lester said.
Lester and Rowe said they see no reason why a game cannot be developed for university level students.
According to Lester, there are possibilities in the pre-school to adult ranges and companies looking to teach in different areas.
